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Education

StreetSmarts SM

“Starting in the Street

and ending at the

Merchant’s front door”
Steve Norell

Let's stir things up a bit

By Steve Norell Well, it did not take long, four months to be exact, to think
US Merchant Services Inc. that I could run a sales office better myself even though I
knew very little about the industry at the time. Truth be
Editor's note: With this article, Steve Norell takes the mantle as the new told, it was a lot easier to fake your way to success back in
author of Street Smarts . He has been a long-time supporter of The 1995 than it is today. Skip ahead to 2018, with numerous
SM
Green Sheet, as well as valued member of our online MLS Forum. He learning stops along the way, and as they used to say on
has also contributed several articles to our magazine over the years. the Beverly Hillbillies, "Next thing you know Ole Jed's a
millionaire."
Along with this inaugural Street Smarts article, we're providing an
SM
excerpt from the first submission he sent to us: "Believe in what you offer, P.S. I put most of the money I made back into the business.
watch your sales soar," by Steve Norell, published in The Green Sheet
Sept. 12, 2011, issue 11:09:01.We are delighted to have Steve penning Goals for the column
the column. It's bound to be a lively, informative year ahead. With the Street Smarts column, I hope to not just
SM
his is my first article for the Street Smarts SM col- continue to make it educational, but also to put a bit of a
umn. After many requests to do this, I finally twist on it. Some of the ideas are to ask questions that will
succumbed. Trying to follow in the footsteps of cause more input, as well as thought, when answered ‒
T all the previous Street Smarts authors will be not to mention real bantering from all sides.
SM
challenging and daunting but hopefully a lot of fun.
So I will leave you at the end of this introduction with
For most of you that know me, I doubt that you need to the same thing I started with. For those that know me,
know anymore than you already do. But for those of you get ready for a little something educational, entertaining,
that don't, I am happy to give you a bit of insight as to who polarizing and hopefully thought provoking. For those
I am, as well as how I do things. that don't know me, the same thing.
I got into the payments industry by sheer accident by If there is a topic that you would like covered, please email
answering an ad for a CardService International office me so we can share ideas. I look forward to your comments
in West Palm Beach, Fla. I had been living in the San in the MLS Forum, and will also appreciate emails from
Francisco Bay Area for 20 years, where I worked in the anyone who wants to comment on my column personally.
foodservice industry selling to foodservice distributors I'm too old to get offended; nothing bothers me anymore.
and restaurants. The CardService opportunity looked a
lot easier. Sell a merchant, get paid, and when they have
a problem tell them to call an 800 number. What could be
better?

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